spalding

Just said on 7 news that it was head-neck and not, repeat not, a concussion issue. that said, still said that he will be tested before round 1 (or words to that effect), but not subject to concussion protocol

At half time I thought they had more to worry about than us - a forward line that was being beaten by our backs, and a backline that wasn’t great against our forwards. in the second half as I watched us fall off tackles and miss targets I’ve changed my mind. not slitting wrists given so many players out, but god I hope May is ok for round 1, the guys who were out can come back in (only chandler and Bowery worth a second thought for round 1 IMO), and hope we do much much better at stoppages so we can get the opportunities to try a kick a winning score. can’t really understand our odds for round 1 - although Walters being out evens things up a bit (assuming May can play)

I’m less bullish on Geelong after last night. Will still get enough freebies at pork barrel park to make finals , but I think the new rules might catch out their slow ball movement game style. They looked slow last night.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/gawn-in-new-demon-deal-as-players-commit-to-selfless-drive-to-top-20210304-p577x2.html love you Max. good that they are identifying the same underperformance relative to “potential” and talent that we all talk about . Hopefully petracca and Oliver really believe in what Max says.

My first thought was what a load of bs - as we always seem to get the best teams (conferences or not) - but the only way we get to finals is for teams above us to lose, so may as well be us who beats them.

Play him - I don’t care who misses as a result. So much time and skill. Most exciting thing about the day IMO.

goody will be one or the other!

I really hope that Goody ends up being successful with Melbourne, but he seems to have the same bemused expression I have when I am being sold something that I'm not sure I really want.

Sorry for the bum stead. when I questioned my mate about an exact time, he says it was “delayed” - whatever that means (maybe it still is the 25th). apologies again - I hope no-one had already made plans.

My well placed Tigers source said there will be a 6 quarter scratch match vs the Tigers this Thursday at Casey.

great - If May was wearing a Geelong jumper how would he go? Probably called "play on" in a real game

Shows we have poor coaching and a VFL quality backline at best, which will get toweled up by Dixon, Lynch, Hawkins etc. 6-8 wins in 2021 is all we can hope for, with everyone below us except North and Adelaide going straight past us. Just thought I'd get in before the usual glass half full posters.

probably explains their interest in Nev. He is an asset that we can not afford to lose. I hope our current Board are working on how we keep him involved with the club once his playing days are over.

interesting to see this re Kossie and also the comments about Hunt training with the backs. Perhaps we are looking at our fastest players to receive the ball in the middle of ground and speed towards goal to break defensive zones and give our tall forwards one on one opportunities. This will be a feature of the game this year because of the change in the manning the mark rule (ie the man on the mark can not slow up the game and then be replaced by a team mate coming from the side or forward of the ball carrier, which allows him to flood back to congest the defensive zone for the next kick). Tmac might be pivotal in this strategy - someone who can present, mark and quick handball release on the wing/centre of the ground to the speedsters running past. I reckon teams like Port could be found out with this rule (a bit like we were in 2019 with the 6/6/6). They have a lot of contested beasts in the midfield who are not particularly quick (which will be an issue for us too if we don't adapt our game plan), play a very high defense, and are not particularly strong one on one defenders (i.e. when they come up against Tom Hawkins and the like).

Change of rule re manning the mark might mean that Hunt back on the half back flack (or wing) would be very difficult to stop running through the centre of the ground. Whilst not the best kick into a leading forward, if he is a designated handball receiver running 50 metres and having shots at goal he could be back to the weapon he was in 2016.

If Tmac was third that could be encouraging. Anyone know how he went last year? I know he used to win it regularly before the last couple of years.

Normally I take the time trials with a grain of salt (after all, ANB is currently our best runner), but I think it will be really interesting to see if tmac is back close to the levels he was at a few years ago. That could be a portent of a much improved year. With reduced interchange, I reckon having a player who can play key forward or back, a few minutes in the ruck, and possibly even pinch hit on the wing could give us valuable insurance on match day and more flexibility with team selection.

I think if we have to play at the cattery round 23 is probably the best time. Most likely they will have already stitched up a top 2 position and have nothing riding on the game, or hopefully their all-in for 2021 strategy has spectacularly backfired and they are imploding outside of the 8. Only issue with that could be it results in multiple retirements and they fire up for the last game of the likes of Selwood. At least Gablett and Taylor have already gone!

He’s “hard work” according to a mate in the inner sanctum at Tigerland, but maybe that’s what we need. I’m normally a glass half full sort of guy, so obviously I have no place to be on demonland!

Tiger mate of mine who is very bullish on the Demons in 2021 said this is the last piece of the puzzle for us. Tigers lost Dan Richardson to bombers in 2017, and look what happened for them!

Careful deestinga2 - some of us are still in our 50’s ?

jeez - now on this site as well as the arguments between the eternal optimists and the debbie downers with severe MFCSS re the Melbourne list and contracts, we're on to the equivalent discussion about the economy! If history is any guide you should bet against MFC and go long on the housing market.

If LJ believes in himself he would have been nuts to extend beyond 2022 - as he could be worth so much more than he is now (either to us or to another club). Its when the player is seeking the long term deal that you need to be wary, as it suggests that they themselves (or their manager) is seeking to maximise a good run of form, or see their football mortality coming either due to age or injury. Jack Viney and Tmac are good examples of this. Problem is that someone else will often be prepared to pay what they are asking at the time so more often than not they get it.

I get tired with this "it is really on the club to make finals" commentary that seems to completely over look that at least some of the onus is on the players. As bad as many seem to think Goodwin is at coaching, 2018 would seem to suggest that if they don't make it in 2021 it can't be 100% his fault

i think with a more predictable forward line structure, which BB will hopefully provide, we may see a more consistent and valuable player. He does show glimpses of good roving traits (ie Vs the Pies and in 2018) and usually uses it well (more so in the forward 50, than further up the ground as his turnovers on the wing/centre in the Round 1 game in 2020 vs the Eagles still haunt me!). I would like more work with him and Kozzi as a duet, where Kozzi uses his pace to get the ball and then gives it to Spargs to use it inside 50.